Deaths Ruled Murder-sucide In Monroe

September 11, 1988|The Morning Call

The deaths of three Eastern European immigrants each found shot in the head in a Chestnuthill Township home have been ruled a double-homicide and suicide.

Monroe County Deputy Coroner Daniel Spalluto said yesterday that Nicolae Vutca, 48, apparently shot himself in the head Friday with a .38-caliber pistol after shooting his estranged wife, Dorina, 45, and Dorina's mother, Maria Vacari, 65. The pistol was found next to his body, Spalluto said. He said there was no sign of a struggle.

The bodies were discovered at 5:50 p.m. by Alex and Elizieth Miricea, who had returned to their ranch home on Pine Lane in Effort, after work. The Miriceas' 7-month-old daughter was on the front lawn in a stroller. She was unharmed.

Spalluto said Dorina and her mother had been living with the family since August, when Dorina separated from her husband, who lived in Parsippany, N.J.

He said the couple was in the process of getting a divorce and Dorina had obtained a protection from abuse order from her husband.

Spalluto said the Vutcas and Vacari were immigrants from Eastern Europe, possibly Romania, but their nationality still is not clear.

"We have to go through their personal belongings," he said.

The Miriceas also are from Eastern Europe.

According to Spalluto, the shootings probably took place between 9 a.m. and noon. He said a neighbor told state police at Fern Ridge that he saw no stroller in front of the house when he left his home in the wooded neighborhood about 9 a.m., but it was there when he returned at 12:15 p.m.

Nicolae and Vacari each died of a single gunshot wound to the head. Dorina had two gunshot wounds.